The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two members of a syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, for allegedly impersonating and attempting to blackmail the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.
They were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency accused the suspects of contacting the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, claiming to have access to a fabricated EFCC investigation involving him.
The EFCC added that the defendants demanded $1 million, promising that Olukoyede would ensure a “soft landing” for Bello-Koko.
In a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, it was noted that the EFCC filed four charges against the duo for impersonation and attempted fraud.
Count two of the charges read, “That you, Ojobo Joshua (aka PA to Chairman EFCC) and Aliyu Hashim, on or about September 28, 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of $700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) by false pretence from Mohammed Bello-Koko.
“You falsely represented to him that there was a pending EFCC petition against him, which you could influence the Executive Chairman to halt. This act is contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006.”
Oyewale noted that the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
to remand the defendants to a correctional facility pending the commencement of the trial.
